Verizon Gives $10,000 Grant to P.S. 154 for Computer Lab

NEW YORK - Verizon has "adopted" P.S. 154-Harriet Tubman School and provided a $10,000 Verizon Foundation grant for a computer lab and software for the pupils at the school, located on West 127th street. The initiative, which also includes company employees volunteering their time, is part of the Adopt-A-School Program.

Tom Dunne, vice president public policy and external affairs-Verizon, presented the check today to the school's principal, Elizabeth Jarrett. The school serves pre-kindergarten to 5th-grade students.

"Our participation in the Adopt-A-School program and this Verizon Foundation grant reflect our commitment to help youths develop the critical skills required in this broadband age to enhance their academic achievements and the quality of their lives," said Dunne.

Verizon employees have volunteered at the school for the past eight years. They visit it weekly and take part in activities including one-on-one mentoring.

"We are grateful for Verizon's commitment to P.S. 154 and our city's public schools," said Leslie Koch, CEO of the Fund for Public Schools. "Their participation in the Adopt-A-School program is a wonderful example to all New York City companies and demonstrates the difference that corporate support and volunteers make to our school children."

Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright, D-Manhattan, said, "Quality education is possible with private and pubic partnerships. The Harriet Tubman-Verizon partnership should serve as a flagship model to other private entities."

P.S. 154's Jarrett said, "Time is the most valuable gift one can give, but Verizon has found a way to exceed our expectations by giving time and money to help us to educate our students."

The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. In 2003, the foundation awarded more than 21,000 grants totaling about $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, enriching communities through technology, and creating a skilled work force. The foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer 595,000 hours in their communities and provided $34.6 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

Verizon Communications Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. With a diverse work force of approximately 208,000, Verizon has four business units: Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline telecommunications services, including broadband, nationwide long-distance and other services. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 42.1 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

The Fund for Public Schools is the non-profit organization affiliated with the New York City Department of Education. Its mission is to inspire belief in public schools and our ability to make them better; to increase private sector support of public education and to encourage every New Yorker to participate in our City's schools.

The Fund seeks critical funding for system-wide educational reform initiatives; helps businesses partner with individual schools and programs; supports volunteering and reaches out to the entire City to create awareness about our public schools' needs. For more information about the Fund, log on to www.fundforpublicschools.org.

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